How do the air nozzles required by OSHA for the 30 psi reg work?  Do they limit the total airflow to 30 psi or do they allow for the excess pressure to bleed out if they are dead ended?

Also, how do you tell if existing nozzles meet that requirement?

Thanks.

http://www.labsafety.com/refinfo/ezfacts/ezf187.htm

Refer to this link for more information, but in a nut shell, the ports built into the sides of a nozzle are sized to re-direct enough air pressure when the nozzle is dead headed that thirty pounds or less remains to exit the working end of the nozzle.  You can also equip the air line with a regulator set to 30 or less but you always then run the risk of a user adjusting the regulator upwards.  The limiting nozzle takes that option off the table. 

The self regulating nozzles are visually different than the others.  In addition to the exit port, in the tip of the nozzle, there will be two or more other ports which open at 90 degrees to the exit.  These will blow excess air pressure away from the work surface if the exit is blocked.  regular nozzles will have a solid fitting from which the air will exit.

As far as testing whether a ported nozzle actually limits the air pressure, I have never seen it done.

Usualy by visually inspecting the device to see if it does have the breather holes on the side. If it does not....Throw it out. These devices are pretty inexpensive and would be of a minimal cost to replace than to try to find some sort of instrument to test them.

I suppose you could also try to hook it up to a tire pressure gauge. It may work. I don't know...I've never done it.

Let me know what you decide to do.